Second week of the Red Seas Under Red Skies Read-along.

Image by Les Edwards.

Now that we know a little more about Selendri and Requin, what do you think of them? I worry Locke is suddenly realizing this con might be a bit tougher than he expected.

I’m finding this book much more violent than the previous one, and these chapters weren’t for those with a weak stomach. There’s something of the volcano waiting to explode in both Selendri and Requin. They’re so smooth, so controlled, but then there’s the legendary violence we only hear about. It’s a matter of time before we witness it first-hand.

Our heroes know they’re loosing control, but I’m much more worried about the Archon that with the Sinspire people. Selendri and Requin want power and wealth but the Archon has a long-term Vision that’s maniacally obsessive and at the same time strangely appealing.

Isn’t the Artificers’ Crescent just amazing?  If you could purchase anything there, what would it be?

These chapter were even better in world-building that the first ones. The Artificers’ Crescent reminded me a bit of The Night Circus, where every new tent was a new fantastic space. I’d ask for a Time Turner, Hermione-style.

What did you think of  Salon Corbeau and the goings on that occur there? A bit crueler than a Camorri crime boss, no?

The Salon was Lynch’s version of The Hunger Games. It made me uncomfortable because it’s too close to a lot of what’s already happening with TV shows like Survivor and Temptation Island. We revel in seeing other’s in emotional and physical stress. I’m sure I’ve heard the whole they-want-to-be-here or  they’re-being-well-paid-so-we’re-actually-doing-them-a-favor speech somewhere…

I hope that at the end of their mission Locke and Jean will have the time to deal with it.

The Archon might be a megalomaniacal military dictator, but he thinks he’s doing right by Tal Verrar: his ultimate goal seems to be to protect them.  What do you think he’s so afraid of?

As I’ve mentioned above, there’s something appealing about the Archon’s mission, especially considering what we know about the Bondsmage. A man with a mission he knows he won’t see accomplished in his life-time also inspires respect. However, there are hints he’s not telling us everything. I guess he feels the Bondsmage are gaining too much power through superstition and fear (interesting that Locke is also starting to realize it) and feels that now it’s the time to put in motion the plan that’ll bring them down. It reminded me a lot of the way left-wing States feel about Religion.

“Full-on barking madness is a state of rational bliss to which you may not aspire.”

That being said, his plan of turning Locke and Jean into pirates feels a bit far-fetched.

And who the heck is trying to kill Locke and Jean every few days? They just almost got poisoned (again!)!

I’ve been thinking about that! My money is on Merrain (or maybe on the gambling Sisters?). She always seems to be around and I feel like she has a secret agenda of her own.

Do you really think it’s possibly for a city rat like Locke to fake his way onto a Pirate ship?

If someone can, he can! He’s a professional bullshiter, with the ability to talk his way out of any situation. I was smirking throughout the whole rope episode 🙂 However, Jean is making better progress than Locke, so why wasn’t he chosen to be the captain?

Random thoughts:

  • Call me revolutionary, but I really loved the Thiefmaker’s speech about the role of people like him and Locke in society. I guess that in current times, one cannot help but to root for the Robin Hoods.

“We are the stone in their shoe, the thorn in their side, a little bit of reciprocity this side of divine judgement.”

  • The war around the arrival of the press: I hope we’ll hear more about it in the future. It’s possible that the Archon’s master-plan might have something to do with it. The Times They Are A-Changin’!
  • There might have been some hints in the first book, but I’m only now noticing how Jean is A Reader. I’m getting more fond of him with every chapter. The romantic in me hopes that’s not only Locke that gets a love-story.
  • Lynch is second only to Shakespeare when it comes to insults…